In 2010, Punit Malhotra made his directorial debut with a film called I Hate Luv Storys, starring Imran Khan in the lead. Three years later, it seems like both the director and the actor have come of age. The genre is the same, but the story and treatment pleasantly surprises you with a lot more depth.

Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor in 'Gori Tere Pyaar Mein'

The story by Puneet along with Arshad Syed talks about two drastically different people, Shriram (Imran Khan) and Diya (Kareena Kapoor), who fall in love with each other. While laidback Shriram comes from a Tamil family in Bangalore, feisty Dia belongs to a Punjabi family in Delhi. But more than the Aryan-Dravidian divide, it is their ideological differences that sets them apart. While Shriram lives in an I, me, myself kind of a callous life, Diya is a staunch activist whose sole aim in life is to fight for the downtrodden and against the system. Shriram and Diya separate after yet another fight over their principles and move on in life. Months later, Shriram is all set to wed a lovely girl (Shraddha Kapoor) and then the twist happens. Shriram ends up in a small village on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat building a bridge.

First of all, the intention of the film seems right. The story refreshingly and subtly talks about how consumerism is eating away our souls and how each of are becoming more and more self-centred. How take is more acceptable than give in this fast-paced world where each lives for his or her own. In a rather casual manner, befitting a romantic comedy, the film touches upon certain sensitive issues and taboos. For starters, the girl being many years senior to the boy she is in love with is casually mentioned in the passing and not made a big deal out of. That speaks of the maturity of the thought behind this film.

Imran puts up a good effort, but it’s the ladies this film belongs to. While the dependable Kareena is as good as ever, Shraddha puts in a sincere performance.

While the first half is cheerful and breezy, in direct contrast the second half is grounded and purposeful. The climax disappoints a bit as the screenplay loses its steam and makes it all too simplistic, but even then watch this film because it attempts to talk about things that matter. And for Puneet’s sake. He could have easily chosen the shallow path that he had taken with his debut film.